London Study Finds Children's Lung Capacity Improved After Ultra-Low Emission Zone

Chris Griffiths, a professor of primary care at the University of Oxford and Queen Mary University of London and the study's joint senior author, said: "Traffic pollution in cities damages children's health and development. We provide the strongest evidence yet on how these harms can be prevented. Ambitious clean-air zones should be considered a priority for cities globally with traffic-related air pollution."

Traffic pollution has stunted the development of children's lungs in London for decades, the report said. Previous research found that by age eight or nine, children from the most polluted areas had 5-10% less lung capacity than peers elsewhere. Scientists said that impairment, caused by exposure to nitrogen dioxide, put them at increased risk as adults of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and premature death.

The researchers said the findings demonstrate that such health damage can be prevented, and called on cities with traffic-related air pollution to prioritise ambitious clean-air zones.